Two Pennies Left

Fortune_Smiles

takingcontrolatlast wrote: »

Your sweets look so pretty - very appropriate for valentines - have a lovely meal

Thanks Tcal - I haven't even eaten any either :A

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Just one picked up FB sale today - £8 in the kitty :T Tomorrow afternoon I have about 5 more scheduled plus I'm dropping 1 off in the village tomorrow morning. A couple of people have mucked me about a bit saying they want something then pulling out but all in all it's been quite a positive experience.

Today's meals have been leftovers. Carrot & Ginger Soup with Apple, Cheddar & Walnut Soda Bread and last night's celeriac bake with haddock, rice and peas for supper.

I am meeting with a friend tomorrow for a quick catch up and to pick her brains about her recent house sale/purchase. Then I have a meeting with the mortgage adviser. Won't be long before we can get this place on the market :eek:

Friday tomorrow :T

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

I didn't meet up with my friend after all as something urgent came up for her

I didn't meet with the mortgage adviser either :mad:

I'd used the Bank's on-line process to request an appointment but no one had got back to me after a week. So I called the central helpline. After being asked 3 times whether Mr F would be accompanying me (no) and told 3 times that they would transfer me so that I could speak to someone over the phone (no thank you - my situation is complicated and I will need to see a mortgage specialist for face-to-face advice) I was given an appointment.

About an hour before my appointment this morning, the Bank Manager :mad: called Mr F :mad: to say he didn't think he was the right person for Mr F :mad: to speak with, Mr F :mad: needed to speak with the Mortgage Adviser :mad:

After explaining that the appointment was for me (can this sexist rubbish really still be happening?) and that I'd asked for an appointment with a mortgage specialist I was told that she only works in branch on Tuesdays but is now on holiday for two weeks because of half term :mad:

Do I really want to partner with this level of incompetence during a house purchase? No. I've made an appointment to see an independent adviser on Tuesday

A little bit of spending today as I had to pick up some dry cleaning and a few things for tomorrow night's dinner. But another £45 in FB sales collected :T

Mr F and I went out for supper tonight. I needed to get him away from his desk so we could talk properly about the house move. One of the downsides of working from home. Cost will come from the fun money. I haven't forfeited this yet as the house may take some time to sell.

There was snow on the roof of the car when we left the pub :eek: Fortunately our log baskets are full this evening so we won't have to go out and chop logs in the snow this time :rotfl:

Stay warm

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

MS efforts continue:

• our Valentine's supper went well and I managed to source the supplies from stores or the grocery budget :A
• FB and Fleabay sales continue. My plan was to try FB first and list any unsold items on Fleabay. I might be procrastinating about Fleabay
• I have 2 bags of stuff to take to the charity shop
• friend came through on the removal boxes - my dining room is full of them!
• met with mortgage adviser and have a good idea of what's available
• received estate agent's contract - there's a 20 week tie-in period which I think is too long. Any advice would be appreciated on that one

Next steps are to sign the estate agent's contract and get photos taken :eek: Holding back a little as I feel like things will start moving quite quickly at that point.

Thank you to everyone who has given advice or offered support. It's really appreciated

Fortune x

Karmacat

Blimey, Fortune - just caught up, horrified to hear of the sexist incompetence at your previous financial institution. No wonder they're previous!

As to the EA contract - negotiate it? They can only say no. Would you consider an online EA, like purplebricks?

PurpleFairy26

Personally I think 20 weeks is too long. What if they are incompetent? I know they'll give you all the blurb.... but we engaged with what are reportedly the 'best' estate agents in our town to sell our old house. Within a week I'd worked out they were incompetent and I was telling them what to do and asking questions they didn't like. We met another estate agent whilst viewing a house who we liked, swapped and he sold our house with 10 days :eek: we had 3 viewings on day one, one of which said they'd been trying to view it for weeks but the previous estate agents kept saying no as they hadn't got a buyer for theirs. I know there are time wasters but seriously. They gave us 1 viewing in 3 months. 3 viewings from other estate agent on day 1 resulted in a sale

I wouldn't sign anything that ties you in (unless it's obviously the norm in your part of the world) and if you have to id say 8 weeks max.

Fingers crossed for you.

doingitanyway

This is amazing. Like reading a report of house buying in the 1970s. This level of sexist cr*p is truly astounding. Well done Fortune for battling on through it all
DIA x

Shortie

Oooooohhhhhh I have mixed emotions

On one hand, I'm really glad I've caught up with the diary now and won't have to remind myself not to reply to really old posts :rotfl:

On the other hand, I have that gutting feeling that I've had with two favourite books when you're gutted to get to the end and not (yet) have more to read

Am glad to be onboard ready for the house buying ride. That bank was pants - I remember 30 odd years ago that my Dad would get really annoyed when they'd book a holiday, use my Mum's name as the main correspondant and all the letters would still be directed to him

Btw, the sticky plum flapjacks from a few years back were a super yummy way to use up some reduced plums from Tesco just before Christmas

Fortune_Smiles

Karmacat wrote: »

Blimey, Fortune - just caught up, horrified to hear of the sexist incompetence at your previous financial institution. No wonder they're previous!

As to the EA contract - negotiate it? They can only say no. Would you consider an online EA, like purplebricks?

PurpleFairy26 wrote: »

Personally I think 20 weeks is too long. What if they are incompetent? I know they'll give you all the blurb.... but we engaged with what are reportedly the 'best' estate agents in our town to sell our old house. Within a week I'd worked out they were incompetent and I was telling them what to do and asking questions they didn't like. We met another estate agent whilst viewing a house who we liked, swapped and he sold our house with 10 days :eek: we had 3 viewings on day one, one of which said they'd been trying to view it for weeks but the previous estate agents kept saying no as they hadn't got a buyer for theirs. I know there are time wasters but seriously. They gave us 1 viewing in 3 months. 3 viewings from other estate agent on day 1 resulted in a sale

I wouldn't sign anything that ties you in (unless it's obviously the norm in your part of the world) and if you have to id say 8 weeks max.

Fingers crossed for you.

doingitanyway wrote: »

This is amazing. Like reading a report of house buying in the 1970s. This level of sexist cr*p is truly astounding. Well done Fortune for battling on through it all
DIA x

Thanks all - it was very irritating. The provider has since contacted me to apologise again and I have the name of the mortgage specialist if needed.

I have done some research and 20 weeks is far too long so I will negotiate that down.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Shortie wrote: »

Oooooohhhhhh I have mixed emotions

On one hand, I'm really glad I've caught up with the diary now and won't have to remind myself not to reply to really old posts :rotfl:

On the other hand, I have that gutting feeling that I've had with two favourite books when you're gutted to get to the end and not (yet) have more to read

Am glad to be onboard ready for the house buying ride. That bank was pants - I remember 30 odd years ago that my Dad would get really annoyed when they'd book a holiday, use my Mum's name as the main correspondant and all the letters would still be directed to him

Btw, the sticky plum flapjacks from a few years back were a super yummy way to use up some reduced plums from Tesco just before Christmas

Blimey Shortie

can't believe you've ploughed through my whole diary :eek: Lovely to have you on board for our exciting new chapter though.

We didn't get gifted any plums last year The neighbour's tree was sulking :rotfl:

Fortune x